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Monday, March 11, 2013

In Sickness and In Health

I succumbed to a nasty cold last week.  Its effects still linger.  You cannot lay about forever.

Even though you feel awful, your pets need you.  It was nice that Rescue Daddy could help.  I eventually had to drag myself out of bed and take Gracie for some walkies.  She is definitely my dog.  She will take short walks with other people.  She prefers to walk with me and will quickly “do her business” then dash to the house if she is with someone else. 
As I do with every illness, I think about what would happen if I had a debilitating illness.  We treat our pets like children.  The law, unfortunately, does not recognize them in the same manner.

You can take steps to protect your pet.  Brother Wolf Animal Rescue regularly offers a class with an estate planning attorney who reviews your options.  (Check the Events page on their website at www.bwar.org for dates and times.) 
If you do not live in the Asheville area, you can find a wealth of information on the Internet.  Start with the ASPCA’s website.  They have an entire section devoted to pet planning.  Here is the link:

In further searches, I learned that mentioning your pets in your will is not the best option.  What happens if you have a car accident or serious illness?  Wills apply to the dead, not the living, so no one would check your will for instructions about your pet.  Pet protection agreements and pet trusts offer better legal protection and cover more events besides your death. 

Pet protection agreements do not necessarily require assistance from an attorney.  You can even buy versions on those legal websites they advertise on TV.  Pet trusts, which are recognized in 46 states, require an attorney’s assistance, so they could be costly. 
Each year, thousands of animals find themselves dumped in shelters all over the country because their owners either passed away or developed serious health problems.  It is important to have a plan for your pets.  You made a commitment to care for them for their entire lives.   With a little advance planning, you can be sure that commitment will be honored after you are gone.

Rescue Mommy

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